With a bit more elbow room in a blog than a newsletter, here are some additional thoughts on our November newsletter topic. We hope you will soon be enjoying some more elbow room in your home!

IDENTIFY “coming in” and “going out” areas of your home.

IN ~> Where do you come in from the car? Is this the same route that passes the mailbox? Do you tend to drop your keys and the mail in a pile?

OUT ~> When you have returns for Target, a book for a friend, or an article you pulled to give to your brother do you have a place for these items?

Consider a wall unit with key hooks and mail slots, or a kitchen nook with a drawer for keys and incoming mail, even a basket near the entry – just as long as you use this as your drop-off spot consistently. Then, also have one place to check each time you go out so you’ll remember to bring that new novel to pass on to your friend during the coffee date . . . rather than realize you left them at home, yet again, while sitting there at the cafe. If both “in” and “out” can work in the same spot for you, all the better!

EVALUATE traffic flow & needs.

Do the mucky shoes have a drying-off spot this rainy season?

For one of our clients a slatted wood crate works to trap the mud for easy clean-up and still keep their shoes organized.

Does the wall of coat hooks limit access to the bathroom?
Try culling the off-season jackets and thin out the bulk, or make use of the back of a door for alternate storage.

Is the recycling always tripping you up at the stairs before it goes outside?
Even in her small apartment, one client found an under-utilized kitchen drawer worked well as a holding space, instead of the bins inside the door.

What irks you each time you have to deal with it or shimmy by it to get to something?
Think about alternate spaces to use for an in-the-way item, thinning out the “stuff” or using vertical rather than horizontal space.

What is simply not working smoothly that you need to deal with more than once a week?

Please leave a reply below with your frustration spots and we’ll feature some solutions in future blogs or newsletters.

REPURPOSE things you like that don’t quite work currently.

That cool crock you bought at a yard sale this summer could attractively replace that ugly tupperware used next to the sink for compost; just add a lid from your surplus or find one in the piles of choices at Value Village.

The rugged steamer trunk you found in mom’s attic makes a unique side table and handy off-season shoe storage.

I have a favorite desk that was my grandfather’s (loving called “Grump”, but that’s a story for another day), yet is way too small for modern office needs. Repurposed as an entry table this now serves as my incoming and outgoing station. This favorite and beautiful piece that didn’t otherwise have a logical place in my small house now helps me stay organized. I even have a drawer for greeting cards and one for those perfect gifts that I find throughout the year and need to tuck away till a birthday.

Do you have a favorite repurposed item?

We’d love to hear about it ~ please leave a reply below!

UPKEEP is key!

All of these ideas can help bring things of interest, whimsy or beauty to your home and serve a purpose in clutter-management at the same time. However, dozens of wise clutter tricks won’t help you love your surroundings unless you commit to a bit of upkeep.

Consider what clutter management commitment works best for your personality ~ 10 minutes each morning, one hour each Sunday evening, or a monthly overhaul? We have found that smaller, more frequent maintenance keeps our clients organized and happy in their homes.
A single mom of two teens once told us after we worked with her, “it feels easier to give a few minutes regularly and then the chaos stays at bay.”

We hope you find more elbow room and enjoyment with these tips.

And we wish you cozy holidays in your home!

Please don’t throw things at the messenger, but, if you haven’t already noticed, the holidays are fast approaching.  Each year come January, the Assisted Transitions’ phones have been busy with adult children having experienced eye-opening holiday visits with their aging parents.  Laurie and I try to advocate to our clients that an ounce of preparation allows for better outcomes than those times when we behave reactively.  Having current information about finances, housing, and safety measures specific to older adults can really ease these often emotionally challenging conversations. (more…)